Topless women face prison under new bill

RALEIGH, N.C. — A bill that could send women to prison for going topless in public appears set for approval by the North Carolina legislature.

Triggered by two topless rallies held in Asheville, the Republican-backed bill headed to a floor vote in the House and would amend the state's indecent exposure law to expand the legal definition of "private parts" to explicitly include "the nipple, or any portion of the areola, or the female breast."

Depending on whether such exposure is judged to be "for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire," the woman could be charged with a felony, punishable by up to six months in prison for first-time offenders. More mundane exposure would be a misdemeanor, meriting up to 30 days in jail. "Incidental" exposure by breastfeeding mothers would remain exempt.

Co-sponsor Rep. Rayne Brown, R-Davidson, told members of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that her constituents are concerned about topless rallies promoting women's equality held the past two years in Asheville, which is located about 130 miles west of Brown's district.

Many cities have local ordinances barring women from going topless, but Asheville does not.

Brown said a blanket solution is needed to give law enforcement officers statewide the clear authority to make arrests when nipples are exposed. It would be left to local governments to regulate sexually oriented nightclubs.

"There's some confusion about the law," Brown said. "I think our state deserves clarity on this issue."

That confusion is rooted in a 1970 ruling by the state Court of Appeals that the term "private parts," as then specified in state law, did not include breasts. In 1998, the N.C. Supreme Court suggested that earlier interpretation might not be expansive enough, citing an American Heritage Dictionary definition of "private parts" as "external organs of sex and excretion."

A separate state law specifically outlaws "sexually explicit nudity," including nipples, exposed in the presence of minors. But it is not clear whether the exposure of breasts as part of a political protest could be defined as sexual.

Two Democrats on the Judiciary Committee questioned whether the issue rises to a level requiring legislative action.

Rep. Nathan Baskerville, D-Vance, reiterated that any city or county having a problem with public toplessness is free to pass a local ordinance.

Rep. Annie W. Mobley, D-Hertford, suggested a woman wanting get around the proposed law could simply cover her nipples with tape.

The committee voted to recommend the bill to the House floor, with only Baskerville voting no. The measure would still need approval from the Republican-controlled N.C. Senate before heading to the governor's desk.

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